Heath Newell enters his eighth season at the helm of the Penn State Mont Alto softball program during the 2023-24 academic year.

The 2022 season ended with a 12-20 overall record. The team compiled a 6-12 conference record. Following the season, McKenna Sas was named the PSUAC Co-Player of the Year. Sas and Kirsten Dell were both named 1st team All-Conference. 

The 2021 season was very successful for Penn State Mont Alto, including a trip to the PSUAC championship game and an appearance in the USCAA Small College World Series. The team had an overall record of 21-11 and had the PSUAC West Division Player (Brooklyn Wagner) and Pitcher (Kirsten Dell) of the Year. McKenna Sas was named PSUAC Newcomer of the Year. 

The 2018 season saw the the team get off to a 4-0 start, but a tough middle season series against PSU Greater Allegheny saw the Nittany Lions miss out on post season action for the second-straight year. PSUMA finished with a 10-10 record as Newell helped guide freshman Brooklyn Wagner to PSUAC Newcomer of the Year, All-PSUAC First Team, and USCAA National All-American First Team honors. The Lions were the third best hitting team in the PSUAC with a .362 batting average as Samantha Updegraff and Abby Ebersole were also honored on the All-PSUAC Second Team.

Under Newell's direction, the 2017 season saw the Lions just miss out on qualifying for the PSUAC Tournament. Mont Alto finished the season with an overall record of 9-15 and were 7-13 against conference opponents. The Lions ranked fourth in the PSUAC with a 5.34 team ERA and Krista Feaser was recognized on the All-PSUAC Honorable Mention team. Newell also guided Kaitlyn Whiteaker to USCAA All-American Honorable Mention recognition as well as Krista Feaser, Cassidy Feaser and Alexandra Zombro were named to the USCAA National All-Academic Team.

Newell came to Mont Alto with a wealth of experience coaching at the high school and club level. He has spent time as a varsity assistant or junior varsity head coach with the Shippensburg Area High School softball and basketball programs. Newell's club level accomplishments include leading the Shippensburg Xtreme 18U team to Travel World Series third-place, second-place and champion finishes.

Newell has a associates degree in business from Penn State University and resides in Shippensburg with his wife Holly and their two daughters.